Haft Hall
Construction Began: April 11, 1955
First Occupied: October 20, 1955
Dedicated: November 5, 1955
Estimated Cost: $170,000
Location: Corner of Ostrom and Euclid Avenues
Contractor: Harnett Construction Company
Architects: Harry A. & F. Curtis King
Notes:
Haft Co-operative Dormitory was made possible through a gift of $60,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Morris W. Haft. Construction of the building began in April 1955 while the University was simultaneously attempting to negotiate a $90,000 loan from the U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency to cover the expected $150,000 cost of the building. The loan application was turned down, but work on the dormitory continued and was financed through other sources. It was first occupied in October 1955, and dedicated on November 5, 1955.
The architects were Harry A. and F. Curtis King, while the contractors were Harnett Company, Inc. of Syracuse. In the basement is a recreation area, laundry and drying room, storage area, and toilet facilities. On the first floor is a living room, dining room, kitchen and two twin bedrooms, while the second floor contains ten double and two single bedrooms. From its construction until 1992 the two story building was a co-operative living center housing twenty-six coeds and containing cooking and laundry facilities. The coeds purchased and prepared their own food, and also cleaned and maintained the building. In the fall of 1992 the sorority Sigma Kappa moved into Haft and paid rent to Syracuse University, which retained possession of the building.
Morris Haft was a retired New York clothing executive. The living room furnishings were provided by Mr. Haft in honor of his deceased brother and sister-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Henry H. Haft. Dr. Haft graduated from the S.U. College of Forestry in 1913 and the College of Medicine in 1917. He was a member of the faculty of the College of Medicine from 1917 to 1941.
